Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-11-21
CHRISTIANITY.
"Why Should NOn-PrOfessOrs Sup
port It?"
Rev. 1. w. Reads Theme At the First
Baptist Church Last Evening---In-
teresting Discourse.

At the First Baptist church last even
n.y. Rev. I. W. Read preached thoughts
ul and interesting sermon from the
heme: why Should NonSProfessors
support Christianity The text was
AIKEN from Luke, 2O:25:
And he said unto them, render therefore unto
hem Caesar, the things which be Caesars, and
INTO God the the things which be Gods.
Mr. Read said man stands in the way
where two roads lead in opposite direc-
ions. He has to take one of the two.
The question to be settled is, which one
will take him to his destination Having
settled this. the only common sense
hing to do is to set out upon the one
which will take him to the point desired.
In this life We are just in this condition.
There are two ways-one leading from
God. and the other leading to Him.
Each one is compelled to travel in either
one OF these ways. We cannot 60 in
both, neither can we refrain from going
in either. One or the other must be
chosen. We decide the question for our
selves. "Why Should Non-Professors
Support Christianity" is very perti-
nent question. The devil is on one side
arrayed against christianity, and every
thing that strikes at the unbridled pas
sions of men.
First. What is meant by support?
There is much involved in this. | do not
mean the fact of being q christian, but
support which should be given by those
who are not professedly such. ~. To
sympathize with those things that are es-
seHtially christian. There is an immense
amount of opposition to the advance
ment of christian truth, when it should
be most heartily supported by every one
(2). To be found in attendance upon the
services upon the Lords day. No man
can support religion without attending
the services of those organizations which
are christian. If every business man
and every professional man should be
found in some church once each Sunday,
it would give immense power to the
cause. 81. By support, is meant giving
money to advance the interests of chris
tian work. No support is complete
and other places of vice and crime when
there is not one single result but evil,
and why not give to a cause which is
only good as seen in its results. BUSH
ness men and professional men give less
to christianity than anything else, and
yet you are indebted more to it than
everything else combined. How soon is
$4,000 spent in saloons and in other
places of vice and amusement, the effect
of which is only degrading and soul~de-
stroying, while the Y. NJ. c. A. pleads
for like amount to put up building
for the purpose of saving young men,
and it is denied.
Second: Reasons why this support
should be given. There is not single
reason why it should not, but everything
points to why 1t should. QD. Because
christianity is the great civilizing powe,
of the ages. A glance at the history o
nations only, is necessary to prove thi
statement true. Those nations wher
christianity is least known are those low
est in the scale of civilized life The
ascend the scale, and those in the highes
state of civilization are those most essen
italy christian. This is an srgumen
which cannot be successfully contradict
ell, and therefore should call for the un
qualified support of every man. ~
Because it contributes to the msterli
prosperity of every community. ca
this be proven? Let US see. In VIII,
places is property most salesble? Is
where there are no churches, no schoo
and no religious influences? Or is
| where christian life is more thorough
developed? There can be but one answ
to these questions. No real estate ms
would offer property for sale and the
give as an Involvement TO buy the ia
that the community was not Athlete
with religious Influences of any kin
but on the other hand, the statement
almost invariably made that schools al
churches flourish. This Is always an il
ducement. How often the remark
made: Il do not take much stock in r
ligion myself, but l do not want my oh
dren brought up where it is not foun(
Oh, what a sad commentary on sol
lives. 81. Because it is the great moi
agency by which men and society 6
purified. l want to say just here that
man is morally purified except as
principles of christianity have done
and no society is made better except
these same truths have been at work. N
and society allowed to run unchecked
any moral restraints would bring d
olatlon and ruin to the world. WI
brings discord and riot and ansrchis
1t is the unchecked evil propensities
men allowed TO run at the will of the {
one. Why then should not men "
have the good of humanity at heart 81
port that power which transforms oh
acter and blesses the racer
Third. The effects of refusing SUPP
to christianity. Effect follows cause
day follows night. Your action '
produce an effect either for good or
The effect of refusing support to
cause of Christ can only be evil. q,
STILES conscience Now / believe {
science can be educated; and that e,
act that does violence TO that whic
right, has g tendency to scar the {
science and 80 make it less effective.
1t makes the development of chris
graces impossible, and SO gradually
troys all power for good. There is n
ing SO sublime in humanity as an III
fish spirit, charitable act, an unenv
recognition of others and words ind